The 20R 2200cc. / 22R 2400cc. engines were the most popular US Toyota engines. For 20 years, 1975 to 1995, these motors served as U.S.Toyota's dependable workhorse engine. These engines powered the popular Celicas until 1985, and the unbreakable Pick-up models used these engines until 1995 (in commercial models). Turbo models appeared briefly as the 22RTE in 1985-1988 on Pick-up and 4Runners. The 22RE Fuel injection models appeared in 1983, on some Celica and Pick-up models. In 1985- the 22RE had a major change. The block was taller and the head shorter, compared to the earlier models. The engines' blocks and heads are not interchangeable (for practical and cost purpose).
The engines are OHC design, with hemispherical combustion chambers. The cross-flow head was very efficient, short of a 2 or 4 valve (per cylinder) Twin Cam. The long stroke provided a lot of torque at a reasonable RPM range. The engine responded well to all the tuning tricks. The 20R head is different from the 22R heads. The 20R had open combustion chambers and the 22R had a swirl-inducing chamber (for cleaner emissions). The intake ports on the 20R were round, and rectangular on the 22R. Exhaust ports were identical round design. The later 22RE (with the shorter deck height) had keyhole shaped exhaust ports. There were available 22RE models that used the earlier 22R head, in the 1982 to 1984 Celica GTS. All 22RE from 1985 used the later blocks and heads.
-- www.toysport.com
So far I have replaced the timing chain -- there was nearly 200,000 miles on the original chain, and you should never go over 100,000. And replaced the compressor for the A/C and converted it from R-12 to the new stuff. New spark plugs and spark plug cables, cap and rotor.
I switched to synthetic motor oil for a short while, since that is what my Toyota Sienna required, but I was loosing (out the tail pipe, I guess) a quart of oil every two weeks. My brother had the same problem with his 150, 000 mile Chevy Yukon, he switched to an oil formulated for older engines and the problem stopped. I switched to the same type of oil and my oil loss ended as well.
I'm looking into a K&N air filter , a Weber carberator, electronic ignition, and headers
I'd like to start putting together the replacment engine: A Supercharged 22R from LC Engineering.
Ya right, dream on....